EP3295070B1 - Joint pour raccords sous-marins - Google Patents

Joint pour raccords sous-marins Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3295070B1
EP3295070B1 EP16726933.1A EP16726933A EP3295070B1 EP 3295070 B1 EP3295070 B1 EP 3295070B1 EP 16726933 A EP16726933 A EP 16726933A EP 3295070 B1 EP3295070 B1 EP 3295070B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
coupling
sealing element
annular sealing
abutment surface
pipe
Prior art date
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Application number
EP16726933.1A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP3295070A1 (fr
Inventor
Enrico Ruaro
Andrea DAI ZOTTI
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Pretto Industrie SRL
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Pretto Industrie SRL
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Publication of EP3295070A1 publication Critical patent/EP3295070A1/fr
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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L17/00—Joints with packing adapted to sealing by fluid pressure
    • F16L17/10—Joints with packing adapted to sealing by fluid pressure the packing being sealed by the pressure of a fluid other than the fluid in or surrounding the pipe
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L17/00—Joints with packing adapted to sealing by fluid pressure
    • F16L17/06—Joints with packing adapted to sealing by fluid pressure with sealing rings arranged between the end surfaces of the pipes or flanges or arranged in recesses in the pipe ends or flanges
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L27/00—Adjustable joints, Joints allowing movement
    • F16L27/08—Adjustable joints, Joints allowing movement allowing adjustment or movement only about the axis of one pipe
    • F16L27/0804—Adjustable joints, Joints allowing movement allowing adjustment or movement only about the axis of one pipe the fluid passing axially from one joint element to another
    • F16L27/0808—Adjustable joints, Joints allowing movement allowing adjustment or movement only about the axis of one pipe the fluid passing axially from one joint element to another the joint elements extending coaxially for some distance from their point of separation
    • F16L27/0812—Adjustable joints, Joints allowing movement allowing adjustment or movement only about the axis of one pipe the fluid passing axially from one joint element to another the joint elements extending coaxially for some distance from their point of separation with slide bearings
    • F16L27/0816—Adjustable joints, Joints allowing movement allowing adjustment or movement only about the axis of one pipe the fluid passing axially from one joint element to another the joint elements extending coaxially for some distance from their point of separation with slide bearings having radial sealing

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns the field of pipes and/or ducts.
  • the present invention concerns the field of submarine pipes.
  • the present invention concerns a solution suited to make it easier to install and/or lay pipes and/or ducts of the above mentioned type.
  • the subject of the present invention is a solution intended to overcome the drawbacks and/or problems that occur when pipes and/or ducts of the above mentioned type are installed and/or laid according to the procedures commonly adopted in the known art.
  • the subject of the present invention includes a coupling for pipes of the above mentioned type that makes it possible to overcome the drawbacks and/or problems that occur when the same pipes and/or ducts are installed and/or laid according to the procedures known in the art.
  • a flexible pipe having the desired cross section is unwound from a reel positioned on a ship and than laid on the sea bottom.
  • intermediate pipe fittings are used for laying the pipe, said pipe fittings being interposed between successive pipe portions having a predefined length.
  • Said intermediate pipe fittings have multiple and different purposes, among which, for example, the purpose of firmly anchoring the pipe to the sea bottom (thanks to their weight, for example), as well as the purpose of branching off, in particular of connecting possible secondary or branch pipes to the main pipe or duct.
  • each one of the pipe fittings used must guarantee the passage of a fluid inside it (for example gas, oil or similar fluids), as well as the tightness of the connection with the two portions of the pipe or duct respectively located upstream and downstream of the pipe fitting, in order to avoid fluid leakages from the inside of the pipe towards the outside and/or the infiltration of external agents, in particular of sea water.
  • a fluid inside it for example gas, oil or similar fluids
  • the pipe fittings are connected to the main pipe before being laid or placed on the sea bottom, which means that each pipe fitting is connected to the pipe portion that was previously laid and to the successive pipe portion that is still on the ship or vessel.
  • this type of use and/or connection of the pipe fittings gives rise to further problems that are still, if not completely, at least partially unsolved.
  • the pipe especially if unwound from a reel, is subjected to considerable twisting forces that, if they are not compensated for, may affect the positioning of the pipe and/or of the pipe fittings; for example, the pipe fittings may not be laid on the sea bottom in an optimal way (thus negatively affecting the stability of the pipe) and/or the pipe may be subject to breakages.
  • sealing elements are used (interposed between the two elements of the coupling) that can be activated once the coupling and/or the corresponding pipe fitting has been laid; in practice, during the pipe laying procedure the sealing elements are shaped in such a way that they do not necessarily guarantee tightness, but that they at least allow the rotation of the elements of the coupling (so as to compensate for the twisting forces to which the pipe may be subjected), wherein, once the pipe laying procedure has been completed, the sealing elements are switched to a second configuration intended to guarantee the tightness of the connection between the elements of the coupling and possibly also to prevent their mutual rotation.
  • the main object of the present invention is thus to solve or at least partially overcome the problems that characterize the solutions known in the art.
  • connection coupling suited to be interposed, depending on the circumstances and/or the needs, both between two successive pipe portions and between a pipe fitting and a pipe portion, wherein said connection coupling should guarantee both the tightness of the connection between the two elements of the coupling and the mutual rotation of the elements of the coupling.
  • connection coupling should guarantee both the tightness of the connection between the two elements of the coupling and the mutual rotation of the elements of the coupling.
  • connection coupling should guarantee both the tightness of the connection between the two elements of the coupling and the mutual rotation of the elements of the coupling.
  • connection coupling that makes it possible to produce a coupling of the type that does not require any operations (in particular, submarine operations) for switching the sealing elements to the sealing or non-sealing configuration.
  • connection coupling of the type described above that can be produced and installed with simple procedures and/or operations and at limited cost.
  • Rotatable couplings are known, for instance, from documents US 2012/187675 , US 4,626,003 , GB 742,555 and GB 2468931 .
  • a fluid handling swivel joint includes a first flanged portion and a tail portion that form a conduit.
  • the swivel joint also includes a body secured to the first flanged portion and at least partially surrounding the tail portion, where the body and the tail portion form a raceway.
  • the swivel joint further includes a primary seal positioned between the first flanged portion and the tail portion, and a secondary seal positioned between the first flanged portion and the tail portion and radially outward of the primary seal.
  • the present invention is defined by a rotatable coupling according to claim 1.
  • the present invention is based on the general consideration according to which the problems found in the art can be at least partially overcome by means of a rotatable coupling for pipes made using sealing elements interposed between the mutually revolving parts of the coupling itself and suited to guarantee a degree of tightness that is proportional to the pressure to which they are subjected, in particular due to a fluid that exerts pressure on them.
  • the sealing elements must be suited to be automatically switched between a configuration of minimum tightness (and minimum contact with the revolving elements of the coupling, in which the mutual rotation between the elements of the pipe and at least a minimum degree of tightness arc guaranteed) and a configuration of increased tightness (with increased contact with the revolving elements of the coupling, in which tightness is guaranteed and leakages and/or infiltrations are prevented) in particular through the exploitation of the pressure exerted on them by a fluid.
  • the sealing elements will assume the configuration of maximum tightness by exploiting the pressure exerted on them by a fluid outside the coupling (to avoid infiltrations of the fluid from the outside towards the inside of the coupling) and/or by the fluid inside the pipe (avoiding fluid leakages and/or losses from the inside towards the outside).
  • the subject of the same is a rotatable coupling for connecting pipes, said coupling comprising a first hollow female element suited to be connected, for example, to a first pipe portion or to a pipe fitting and a second tubular male element with a first end portion at least partially housed inside said first female element in such a way as to define a common inner space for the passage of a fluid, and a second end portion suited to be connected to a second pipe portion, said first element and said second element being suited to be rotated with respect to each other and respectively comprising a first abutment surface and a second abutment surface adjacent to said first abutment surface, at least one first elastic annular sealing element being interposed between said first and said second abutment surface, wherein said first abutment surface and said second abutment surface are placed at a mutual distance from each other in such a way as to define an interspace, and wherein the surface areas of the
  • said first abutment surface and said second abutment surface are of the annulus-shaped type and substantially perpendicular to the direction of longitudinal extension of said second tubular male element.
  • said first annular sealing element is hollow, with open cross section, and is provided with an opening or a slit that places the inner space delimited by said first annular sealing element in communication with the space outside said first annular sealing element.
  • said first annular sealing element comprises two portions arranged in such a way as to define or enclose an inner angle and connected by a connecting portion, the external surfaces of each one of said two portions arranged so as to form an angle being respectively in contact with said first and said second abutment surface.
  • each one of said two portions arranged so as to form an angle comprises a rectilinear subportion extending from said connecting portion and a curved end portion, said two curved end portions being opposite each other in such a way as to delimit said opening or slit.
  • one of said first and second end portions respectively of said first female element and of said second male element comprises a first annular groove or lowered portion that extends from the respective abutment surface, wherein said first annular sealing element is at least partially housed inside said first annular groove.
  • said first groove is in contact with the inner space mutually defined by said first hollow female element and by said second tubular male element through said interspace and/or said opening or slit faces towards the inner space defined by said second tubular male element.
  • At least one second annular elastic sealing element is interposed between said first abutment surface and said second abutment surface, wherein the surface areas of the external surface of said elastic sealing element in contact respectively with said first abutment surface and said second abutment surface are minimal if no fluid is present and increase when said elastic sealing element is subjected to pressure by a fluid flowing inside said interspace.
  • said second annular sealing element is hollow, with open cross section, and is provided with an opening or a slit that places the inner space delimited by said second annular sealing element in communication with the space outside said second annular sealing element.
  • said second annular sealing element comprises two portions arranged in such a way as to define or enclose an inner angle and connected by a connecting portion, the external surfaces of each one of said two portions arranged so as to form an angle being respectively in contact with said first and said second abutment surface.
  • each one of said two portions arranged so as to form an angle comprises a rectilinear subportion extending from said connecting portion and a curved end portion, said two curved end portions being opposite each other in such a way as to delimit said opening or slit.
  • one of said first and second end portions respectively of said first female element and of said second male element comprises a second annular groove or lowered portion that extends from the respective abutment surface, wherein said second annular sealing element is at least partially housed inside said second annular groove.
  • said second groove can be in contact with the inner space mutually defined by said first hollow female element and said second tubular male element through said interspace and/or said opening or slit can face towards the inner space defined by said second tubular male element and/or said second groove can be in contact with the space outside said coupling through said interspace and/or said opening or slit of said second annular elastic element can face towards the space outside said coupling.
  • the present invention can be advantageously employed in particular, but not exclusively, in the field of pipe and/or duct laying procedures.
  • the present invention can be advantageously employed when used for installing and/or laying submarine pipes and/or ducts. This is the reason why the present invention is illustrated and described here below with special reference to its possible applications in the field of laying and/or installation procedures for submarine pipes and/or ducts.
  • the possible applications of the presente invention are not limited to the installation and/or laying of submarine pipes and/or ducts; on the contrary, the present invention can also be advantageously applied in all those situations in which it is necessary to connect two portions of any pipe, wherein the connection must guarantee both tightness between the mutually connected parts and the mutual rotation of the parts themselves.
  • Figure 1 shows a ship or vessel indicated by the reference number 200 and provided with a crane 201.
  • pipe fittings 202 are connected to the main pipe before being laid on the sea bottom; in particular, as shown in the figure, the pipe fitting 202 is connected to the previously laid pipe portion 51 and to the successive portion 52 that is still on the ship or vessel, for example wound on a reel (not illustrated in the figure).
  • two rotatable couplings 50 are used to connect the pipe fitting to the pipe portions 51 and 52, said rotatable couplings 50 being respectively interposed between the portion 51 and the pipe fitting 202 and between the pipe fitting 202 and the portion 52.
  • the connection of the rotatable couplings is performed on board the ship according to essentially known procedures, after which the pipe fitting 202 is positioned on the sea bottom with the aid of the crane, wherein while the pipe fitting 202 is being laid the pipe portion 52 is further unwound from the reel.
  • the pipe fitting 202 comprises a hollow box-shaped main body suited to allow the passage of a fluid and therefore to be interposed between and connected to two successive pipe portions (a portion 52 being represented in Figure 2 ).
  • the pipe fitting 202 respectively comprises two connection flanges 203 and 204, each suited to be connected to and/or coupled with a rotatable coupling 60 according to the present invention (only one rotatable coupling being shown in Figure 2 , in particular interposed between the pipe fitting 202 and the pipe 52).
  • the pipe fitting 202 may comprise further flanges (not illustrated in Figure 2 ) that are suited, in fact, to allow its connection to branch pipes, with or even without rotatable couplings.
  • the coupling 60 according to the embodiment of the present invention represented therein comprises three annular elements or flanges 1, 2 and 4 (wherein, furthermore, the number and thickness of the flanges can vary according to the needs and/or circumstances), mutually connected by means of threaded bars in such a way as to form a hollow element 61, wherein the hollow female element 61 is fixed to the connection flange 204 of the pipe fitting 202 by means of the threaded bars.
  • a further tubular male element 6 is revolvingly housed inside the hollow element 61, said tubular male element 6 being suited to be coupled with the pipe portion 52 through two further flanges 5 and 53 (mutually coupled through a further plurality of threaded bars or bolts).
  • tubular male element 6 is rigidly fixed to the pipe 52 through the two flanges 5 and 53, and furthermore the hollow female element 61 is rigidly fixed to the pipe fitting 202, and finally the tubular male element 6 is revolvingly housed in the hollow element 61, it can be understood that the pipe 52 is revolvingly coupled with the pipe fitting 202 through the rotatable coupling 60, so that any twisting forces acting on the pipe during the installation or laying procedure are adequately compensated for.
  • the component parts 1, 2 and 4 of the hollow female element 61 and the tubular male element 6 are shaped in such a way that when said flanges and the tubular male element 6 are mounted according to a predefined sequence, the tubular male element 6 cannot be released from the hollow element 61, in particular it cannot move out of the hollow element 61.
  • the procedure for the installation of the rotatable coupling 60, in particular the succession according to which the flanges 1, 2 and 4 and the tubular element 6 are mutually coupled and/or fixed to the pipe fitting 202, do not necessarily fall within the scope of the present invention and therefore the detailed description of this procedure is omitted for the sake of brevity.
  • the coupling 60 represented therein comprises a plurality of means suited to facilitate the mutual rotation of the hollow female element 61 and of the tubular male element 6; said means, represented through dots and positioned where it is necessary and/or convenient to reduce friction between the male element 6 and the hollow body 61, and comprising for example one or more bushings 12, 8 (or even bearings or similar elements) interposed between the external surface of the tubular male element 6 and the inner surface of the hollow female body 61, and/or in any case between the adjacent surfaces of the hollow element 61 and of the tubular element 6, wherein the opposition between the surfaces may generate such friction as to affect the mutual rotation of the hollow element 61 and the tubular element 6.
  • annular grooves extend from the surface of the flange 1 intended to mesh with the flange 204 of the pipe fitting 202, said annular grooves being suited to accommodate the same number of sealing elements such as, for example, O rings or similar elements; the same applies to the surface (on the right in Figure 4 ) of the tubular element 6 intended to be engaged with the pipe 52, wherein also said surface is provided with annular grooves, each one of which is suited to accommodate a sealing element like an O ring or a similar element.
  • further sealing elements are arranged between the surface 6S of the tubular male element 6 and the surface 1S of the flange 1 (or of the hollow element 61) opposite the surface 6S, said further sealing elements being used for the purpose of guaranteeing the mutual tightness of the connection between the female element 61 and the male element 6 (and therefore of the coupling 60), thus avoiding losses and/or leakages of fluid from the inside towards the outside, as well as infiltrations of external agents (for example, sea water). Said further sealing elements are described here below with special reference to Figures 5 , 6 and 7 .
  • the opposing surfaces 6S and 1S, respectively of the tubular male element 6 and of the hollow female element 61 are placed at a predefined, even if minimal, distance from each other, and thus delimit an interspace I.
  • the tubular male element 6 comprises four concentric annular grooves S1, S2, S3 and S4 that extend from the surface 6S down to a predefined depth; obviously in the present invention the grooves S1, S2, S3 and S4 may alternatively be formed in the hollow element 61, so as to extend from the surface 1S.
  • the sealing elements B1 and B2, in particular the sealing element B1 have the purpose to prevent any leakages and/or losses of fluid (for example, gas, oil, diesel oil or similar fluids), while the sealing elements A1 and A2, in particular the sealing element A2, have the purpose to avoid infiltrations from the outside, for example infiltrations of sea water and/or corrosive agents.
  • fluid for example, gas, oil, diesel oil or similar fluids
  • the sealing elements A1 and A2 in particular the sealing element A2 have the purpose to avoid infiltrations from the outside, for example infiltrations of sea water and/or corrosive agents.
  • sealing elements A1, A2, B1 and B2 are shaped in a substantially similar manner, one of said sealing elements is described here below, in particular the sealing element B1 housed in the annular groove S3.
  • Figure 7 shows, in particular, that the sealing element B1 has "open" cross section (perpendicular to its annular development), in particular with an opening or slit F1 that extends over the entire circumference of the ring or annular element B1.
  • the element B1 comprises two opposite portions (for example rectilinear, as in the example shown in the figure) connected by a curved connecting portion, wherein each one of the two opposite portions comprises an end portion opposite the connecting portion and also curved, the two opposite and curved end portions thus being placed at a predefined distance from each other in such a way as to define and delimit the slit F1.
  • the element B1 being elastic, is suited to be deformed along a direction indicated by the arrows in the figure, in particular in the two opposite directions indicated by the arrows; this means that the element B1 is suited to be "compressed” against the resistance generated by its elasticity (wherein, when the element B1 is compressed the width of the slit F1 decreases and the opposite end portions move near each other) and to be extended thanks to its elasticity, wherein during the extension the slit F1 becomes wider and the distance between the opposite end portions increases.
  • the element B1 is housed in the groove S3 in such a way as to come into contact with both the tubular element 6 and the hollow body 61 (the flange 1), in particular in such a way as to come into contact with the two opposite surfaces 6S and 1S, respectively of the element 6 and of the element 61 (of the flange 1). It can thus be understood that in this way the element B1 closes the interspace I, thus preventing any fluid leakages from the inside of the coupling 60 through the interspace I.
  • the slit F1 faces towards the inner space of the coupling 60; in this way, the fluid flowing from the inside of the coupling along the interspace I will be conveyed into the element B1, which will thus be deformed, that is, extended, wherein the contact areas between the external surface of the element B1 and the surfaces 6S and 1S will increase.
  • the element B1 can be naturally and automatically switched between the configuration shown in Figure 7 , in which the contact between the element B1 and the surfaces 6S and 1S is minimal (and thus also the thrusting action exerted by the element B1 against the surfaces 6S and 1S is minimal) and a configuration of increased contact and tightness (not represented in the figures) in which, compared to the configuration shown in Figure 7 , the contact between the element B1 and the surfaces 6S and 1S is increased (and also the thrusting action exerted by the element B1 against the surfaces 6S and 1S, and therefore the tightness, is increased).
  • the sealing element B2 whose diameter is smaller than the diameter of the element B1, is concentric with the element B1 and therefore internal to the element B1, wherein, however, the slit of the element B2 is opposite the slit F1 of the element B1 and thus faces towards the outside of the coupling 60.
  • the sealing elements A1 and A2 are concentric, wherein the external element A1 has its slit facing towards the inside of the coupling 60, while the element A2 has its slit facing towards the outside of the coupling 60.
  • the two grooves S1 and S2 are in communication with the outside of the coupling 60 through a duct CA that extends from the interspace I to the external surface of the hollow element 61 (in particular, of the flange 1); in the same way, the two grooves S3 and S4 are in communication with the outside of the coupling 60 through a duct CB that extends from the interspace I to the external surface of the hollow element 61 (in particular, of the flange 1).
  • the coupling is in the configuration of minimal contact illustrated in Figure 7 ; in this configuration, notwithstanding the contact between the sealing elements A1, A2, B1 and B2 and the elements 6 and 1 (in particular the respective surfaces 6S and 1S), the hollow element 61 and the tubular element 6 are free to rotate with respect to each other thanks to the presence of the interspace I and to the fact that the resistance exerted by the sealing elements is minimal.
  • the pipe can thus be laid and any twisting force exerted on the pipe can be compensated for thanks to the free mutual rotation of the elements 61 and 6 of the coupling 60, and thus between the pipe 52 and the pipe fitting 202.
  • the operation of the sealing elements A1, A2, B1 and B2 is properly tested, wherein for this purpose a pressurized fluid (usually air) is introduced in the grooves S1, S2, S3 and S4 through the ducts CA and CB and the interspace I.
  • a pressurized fluid usually air
  • the sealing elements are switched over automatically, meaning that, according to the methods described above, they are further pressed against the elements 61 and 6.
  • the fluid introduced in the duct CA cannot flow towards the outside of the coupling and towards the inside of the coupling due to the presence of the element A1 and the element A2, respectively.
  • the fluid introduced in the duct CB cannot flow towards the outside and towards the inside of the coupling due to the presence of the sealing elements B1 and B2, respectively.
  • the coupling is readjusted (for example, the elements 61 and 6 are further moved near each other in such a way as to reduce the interspace I) and/or the sealing elements are adjusted and/or replaced.
  • the coupling will guarantee the desired tightness, with no need for further operations to be performed on the coupling itself, in particular on the sealing elements (for example using submarine robots or similar means).
  • any infiltrations of sea water from the outside will switch the configuration of the elastic element A2, while any fluid losses or leakages from the inside of the coupling towards the outside will switch the configuration of the elastic element B1.
  • FIG 8 shows a possible further embodiment of the sealing elements that can be used in the coupling according to the present invention.
  • a helical spring 30 is housed (at least partially) in the inner space defined by the opposite portions (tines) of the switching element, while the connecting portion is housed in a seat in a corresponding shape obtained in an annular housing element 40.
  • the coupling according to the present invention makes it possible to achieve the set objects and to overcome the drawbacks that are typical of the couplings known in the art.
  • the present invention makes it possible to provide a rotatable coupling that guarantees both the tightness of the connection between the two elements of the coupling and the free mutual rotation of the elements of the coupling.
  • the coupling according to the present invention does not require any operation (in particular, submarine operations) for switching the configuration of the sealing elements.
  • the coupling according to the present invention can be made and installed with simple methods and/or procedures and at limited cost.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Joint pivotant (60) pour la connexion de tuyaux, ledit joint comprenant un premier élément creux femelle (61) apte à être relié, par exemple, à une première portion (51) d'un tuyau ou à un raccord de tuyau (202) et un deuxième élément tubulaire mâle (6) avec une première porion d'extrémité logée au moins partiellement à l'intérieur dudit premier élément femelle (61) de manière à définir un espace intérieur commun pour le passage d'un fluide, et une deuxième portion d'extrémité apte à être reliée à une deuxième portion (52) d'un tuyau,
    ledit premier élément et ledit deuxième élément (61, 6) étant indiqués pour être tournés l'un par rapport à l'autre et comprenant respectivement une première surface de butée (1S) et une deuxième surface de butée (6S) adjacente à ladite première surface de butée (1S), où ladite première surface de butée et ladite deuxième surface de butée (1S, 6S) sont disposées à une distance réciproque prédéfinie de manière à définir un interstice (I),
    au moins un premier élément d'étanchéité élastique annulaire (B1) et un deuxième élément d'étanchéité élastique annulaire (B2) étant interposé entre ladite première surface de butée et ladite deuxième surface de butée (1S, 6S),
    où les surfaces des portions de la surface extérieure dudit premier élément d'étanchéité élastique annulaire (B1), en contact respectivement avec ladite première surface de butée et ladite deuxième surface de butée (1S, 6S), sont minimales en l'absence d'un fluide et augmentent quand ledit premier élément d'étanchéité élastique annulaire (B1) est soumis à une pression exercée par un fluide à l'intérieur dudit interstice (I),
    où les surfaces des portions de la surface extérieure dudit deuxième élément d'étanchéité élastique annulaire (B2), en contact respectivement avec ladite première surface de butée et ladite deuxième surface de butée (1S, 6S), sont minimales en l'absence d'un fluide et augmentent quand ledit deuxième élément d'étanchéité élastique annulaire (B2) est soumis à une pression exercée par un fluide à l'intérieur dudit interstice (I),
    ledit joint pivotant comprend en outre un conduit (CB) qui s'étend dudit interstice (I) à la surface extérieure dudit premier élément femelle creux (61), où le conduit (CB) s'étend d'une portion de l'interstice (I) entre ledit premier et ledit deuxième éléments d'étanchéité élastiques annulaires (B1, B2), et où
    chacun desdits premier et deuxième éléments d'étanchéité annulaires (B1, B2) est creux à section transversale ouverte et est pourvu d'une ouverture ou fente (F1) qui met en communication l'espace intérieur délimité par ledit premier et ledit deuxième éléments d'étanchéité annulaires (B1, B2) avec l'extérieur desdits premier et deuxième éléments d'étanchéité annulaires (B1, B2), respectivement,
    où chaque ouverture ou fente (F1) est orientée vers ledit conduit (CB),
    où l'ouverture ou fente (F1) du premier élément d'étanchéité élastique annulaire (B1) est orientée vers l'ouverture ou fente (F1) du deuxième élément d'étanchéité élastique annulaire (B2),
    où ledit conduit (CB) est ouvert vers l'espace à l'extérieur du joint (60).
  2. Joint selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ladite première surface de butée et ladite deuxième surface de butée (1S, 6S) présentent la forme d'une couronne circulaire et sont essentiellement perpendiculaires à la direction longitudinale le long de laquelle ledit deuxième élément tubulaire mâle (6) s'étend.
  3. Joint selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit premier ou ledit deuxième élément d'étanchéité annulaire (B1, B2), selon une vue en section transversale, comprend deux portions disposées de manière à définir ou à renfermer un angle intérieur, lesdites deux portions étant reliées réciproquement par une portion de raccordement, et les surfaces extérieures de chacune desdites deux portions définissant un angle étant en contact, respectivement, avec ladite première surface de butée et ladite deuxième surface de butée (1S, 6S).
  4. Joint selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que chacune desdites deux portions définissant un angle comprend une sous-portion rectiligne qui s'étend de ladite portion de raccordement et une portion d'extrémité courbe, lesdites deux portions d'extrémité courbes étant opposées l'une par rapport à l'autre de manière à délimiter ladite ouverture ou fente (F1).
  5. Joint selon l'une quelconque des revendications de 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce que ledit premier élément femelle (61) ou ledit deuxième élément mâle (6) comprend une première et une deuxième cannelure ou partie abaissée annulaire (S3, S4) qui s'étend de la surface de butée respective (1S, 6S), et en ce que ledit premier élément d'étanchéité annulaire (B1) est logé au moins partiellement à l'intérieur de ladite première cannelure annulaire (S3) et ledit deuxième élément annulaire d'étanchéité (B2) est logé au moins partiellement à l'intérieur de ladite deuxième cannelure annulaire (S4).
  6. Joint selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que ladite première cannelure annulaire (S3) et ladite deuxième cannelure annulaire (S4) sont en communication avec l'espace intérieur défini réciproquement par ledit premier élément creux femelle (61) et ledit deuxième élément tubulaire mâle (6) à travers ledit interstice (I).
  7. Joint selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que ladite ouverture ou fente (F1) dudit premier élément d'étanchéité élastique annulaire (B1) est tournée vers l'espace intérieur dudit joint (60) défini par ledit premier élément creux femelle (61) et par ledit deuxième élément tubulaire mâle (6).
  8. Joint selon l'une quelconque des revendications de 5 à 7, caractérisé en ce que ladite deuxième cannelure annulaire (S4) est en communication avec l'espace à l'extérieur dudit joint à travers ledit interstice (I).
  9. Joint selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que ladite ouverture ou fente (F1) dudit deuxième élément d'étanchéité élastique annulaire (B2) est tournée vers l'espace à l'extérieur dudit joint (60).
EP16726933.1A 2015-05-14 2016-03-14 Joint pour raccords sous-marins Active EP3295070B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITVI20150120 2015-05-14
PCT/IB2016/051440 WO2016181232A1 (fr) 2015-05-14 2016-03-14 Joint pour raccords sous-marins

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3295070A1 EP3295070A1 (fr) 2018-03-21
EP3295070B1 true EP3295070B1 (fr) 2019-09-11

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ID=53794451

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP16726933.1A Active EP3295070B1 (fr) 2015-05-14 2016-03-14 Joint pour raccords sous-marins

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EP (1) EP3295070B1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2016181232A1 (fr)

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6161834A (en) * 1997-08-01 2000-12-19 Imadco, Inc. Pressure energized seal
WO2015118265A1 (fr) * 2014-02-04 2015-08-13 O.S.C Offshore Systems Concepts Joint tournant a joints d'étanchéité pressurises

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB742555A (en) * 1953-08-04 1955-12-30 Emco Brass Mfg Co Ltd Improvements in or relating to rotary joints for pipes
US4626003A (en) * 1985-06-03 1986-12-02 Fmc Corporation Constant motion swivel seal assembly
US8087700B2 (en) * 2009-03-27 2012-01-03 National Coupling Company, Inc. Hydraulic coupling member with bidirectional pressure-energized probe seal
US8783733B2 (en) * 2011-01-24 2014-07-22 Delaware Capital Formation, Inc. Fluid handling swivel joints and fluid conveyance equipment incorporating the same

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6161834A (en) * 1997-08-01 2000-12-19 Imadco, Inc. Pressure energized seal
WO2015118265A1 (fr) * 2014-02-04 2015-08-13 O.S.C Offshore Systems Concepts Joint tournant a joints d'étanchéité pressurises

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2016181232A1 (fr) 2016-11-17
EP3295070A1 (fr) 2018-03-21

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